Starbucks Passion Iced Tea - A No No

Hi, I just found out Starbucks passion iced tea is a no no during pregnancy. Anybody know anything about the danger of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, or licorice root? Or been drinking the tea? I'm a nervous ftm, please help.

Hi, I just found out Starbucks passion iced tea is a no no during pregnancy. Anybody know anything about the danger of hibiscus flowers, lemongrass, or licorice root? Or been drinking the tea? I'm a nervous ftm, please help.

If you look at most tea packages in stores, it will say not to consume while pregnant either. I can't remember the brand, but there is one that makes a mild blend and it's a "nursing" tea (supposedly) that's good for you. It's not always just the caffiene in tea that's bad. I was super disappointed in this finding because I am southern, and I love my tea - hot or cold. No more peppermint or hot orange tea for me. :(

If you look at most tea packages in stores, it will say not to consume while pregnant either. I can't remember the brand, but there is one that makes a mild blend and it's a "nursing" tea (supposedly) that's good for you. It's not always just the caffiene in tea that's bad. I was super disappointed in this finding because I am southern, and I love my tea - hot or cold. No more peppermint or hot orange tea for me. :(

This is first I've heard of it! I've been drinking it a few times, I worked at Starbucks up until a few. Moths ago and pregnant women would order it all the time because it was one of our teas that doesn't have caffeine in it. I'm curious now why it's not safe???

This is first I've heard of it! I've been drinking it a few times, I worked at Starbucks up until a few. Moths ago and pregnant women would order it all the time because it was one of our teas that doesn't have caffeine in it. I'm curious now why it's not safe???

Many pregnant women carefully avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and unnecessary medications but think nothing of drinking cup after cup of herbal tea. If this sounds like you, take heed: Herbal teas can be harmful, especially if you drink too much of them. Most of the ingredients in herbal teas are safe, but many are not. Herbs are drugs and thus can be as potent as some medications. What's more, only a few of the herbs used for teas have been studied in pregnant women.

How can I tell which herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy?

Although no U.S. regulations specifically address herbal teas, most of the herbs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe for food use are presumed safe for teas as well. For example, teas made from ginger, lime blossom, peppermint, roasted barley, rose hips, and thyme are probably safe to drink occasionally in small amounts while you're pregnant or nursing. However, drinking excessive amounts of any teas can cause health problems for you and your developing baby.

Which teas are not safe?

Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage. These include anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.

Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. In any case, it should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs in this list during pregnancy and lactation.

Note: You can still eat food that contains herbs like rosemary and sage, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea — and not as potent (the brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs).

What about the herbal teas that are marketed for pregnant women?

The same cautions apply to teas touted for pregnant women, which are sold in supermarkets and health food stores. While the makers of pregnancy teas promote their products as healthy for expectant moms, no clinical studies support these claims and the safety of the ingredients are not regulated.

Pregnancy teas usually include ingredients such as alfalfa, fennel seed, lemongrass leaf, lemon verbena, nettle leaf, rosehips, and strawberry leaf. Not all of these are safe to take during pregnancy. For example, nettle leaf (also known as stinging nettle leaf), which stimulates the uterus and can cause miscarriage, and fennel (including the fruit, seed, and oil) should not be used in tea during pregnancy and lactation due to its potential estrogen-like effects.

How can I choose a safe herbal tea?

If you enjoy herbal teas, check the packaging labels and steer clear of unsafe or unfamiliar ingredients. Or consider making your own concoction. Add honey, fruit juices, lemon rinds, cinnamon, or cloves to boiled water or decaffeinated black or green tea. Never make a tea from any plant unless you're 100 percent sure what it is and that you can safely take it while you're pregnant.

My doctor had herbal teas on the list of things not to eat or drink when I first told them I was pregnant at 5 weeks. Here's some more information:

Many pregnant women carefully avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and unnecessary medications but think nothing of drinking cup after cup of herbal tea. If this sounds like you, take heed: Herbal teas can be harmful, especially if you drink too much of them. Most of the ingredients in herbal teas are safe, but many are not. Herbs are drugs and thus can be as potent as some medications. What's more, only a few of the herbs used for teas have been studied in pregnant women.

How can I tell which herbal teas are safe to drink during pregnancy?

Although no U.S. regulations specifically address herbal teas, most of the herbs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers safe for food use are presumed safe for teas as well. For example, teas made from ginger, lime blossom, peppermint, roasted barley, rose hips, and thyme are probably safe to drink occasionally in small amounts while you're pregnant or nursing. However, drinking excessive amounts of any teas can cause health problems for you and your developing baby.

Which teas are not safe?

Many of the herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage. These include anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.

Although some midwives use raspberry leaf (also known as red raspberry leaf) to aid delivery, its effectiveness hasn't been proven. In any case, it should be used only near term and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Avoid the rest of the herbs in this list during pregnancy and lactation.

Note: You can still eat food that contains herbs like rosemary and sage, because the amounts used in food are generally much smaller than those used in tea — and not as potent (the brewing process for making tea concentrates the chemicals of the herbs).

What about the herbal teas that are marketed for pregnant women?

The same cautions apply to teas touted for pregnant women, which are sold in supermarkets and health food stores. While the makers of pregnancy teas promote their products as healthy for expectant moms, no clinical studies support these claims and the safety of the ingredients are not regulated.

Pregnancy teas usually include ingredients such as alfalfa, fennel seed, lemongrass leaf, lemon verbena, nettle leaf, rosehips, and strawberry leaf. Not all of these are safe to take during pregnancy. For example, nettle leaf (also known as stinging nettle leaf), which stimulates the uterus and can cause miscarriage, and fennel (including the fruit, seed, and oil) should not be used in tea during pregnancy and lactation due to its potential estrogen-like effects.

How can I choose a safe herbal tea?

If you enjoy herbal teas, check the packaging labels and steer clear of unsafe or unfamiliar ingredients. Or consider making your own concoction. Add honey, fruit juices, lemon rinds, cinnamon, or cloves to boiled water or decaffeinated black or green tea. Never make a tea from any plant unless you're 100 percent sure what it is and that you can safely take it while you're pregnant.

Well i read that it's the hibiscus that's not good because in large amounts it can cause contractions I'm gonna ask my dr what he thinks, I don't think an occasional drink from Starbucks will do harm plus I've never had contractions in any of my pregnancies never could go into real labor but it's up to everyone what they wanna do I'm callings my ob now since I was planning on getting one to go keep me cool while walking around the misstate fair this evening

Well i read that it's the hibiscus that's not good because in large amounts it can cause contractions I'm gonna ask my dr what he thinks, I don't think an occasional drink from Starbucks will do harm plus I've never had contractions in any of my pregnancies never could go into real labor but it's up to everyone what they wanna do I'm callings my ob now since I was planning on getting one to go keep me cool while walking around the misstate fair this evening

Hopefully cuz I love the stuff and when it's 90-100+ where I live up until October it's nice to drink something thats so refreshing. My ob is closed for lunch for another 15 mins I'm dying to know if he oks it. I seriously was getting ready to walk around the fair and drink one I might have to settle for a smoothie though

Hopefully cuz I love the stuff and when it's 90-100+ where I live up until October it's nice to drink something thats so refreshing. My ob is closed for lunch for another 15 mins I'm dying to know if he oks it. I seriously was getting ready to walk around the fair and drink one I might have to settle for a smoothie though

I called my midwife's office and discussed this with them because they gave me an herb list (all herbs to avoid) and hibiscus and chamomile were not on it. They said that if you google these herbs you'll find an equal amount of articles that say they're safe compared to not safe and from the research they have done (and continuously update) they have concluded that these teas are safe- especially in moderation. So I'm sure if you drank a gallon of hibiscus or chamomile tea in one sitting then yes, you may have some effects. A tall cool glass of Passion or something like that? Probably not an issue.

I called my midwife's office and discussed this with them because they gave me an herb list (all herbs to avoid) and hibiscus and chamomile were not on it. They said that if you google these herbs you'll find an equal amount of articles that say they're safe compared to not safe and from the research they have done (and continuously update) they have concluded that these teas are safe- especially in moderation. So I'm sure if you drank a gallon of hibiscus or chamomile tea in one sitting then yes, you may have some effects. A tall cool glass of Passion or something like that? Probably not an issue.

Also, they told me that most homeopathic/herbal products put a pregnancy warning on their labels for liability reasons since they are not FDA regulated, even if those products are 100% safe. When in doubt, if your own research confuses you, CALL YOUR OB/MIDWIFE :)

Also, they told me that most homeopathic/herbal products put a pregnancy warning on their labels for liability reasons since they are not FDA regulated, even if those products are 100% safe. When in doubt, if your own research confuses you, CALL YOUR OB/MIDWIFE :)

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here